Summary

On 15 January 2003, the Bavarian Kassenärztliche Vereinigung (KVB) (Association of Panel Doctors) - aided by advice from the company consultants McKinsey & Co. - in addition to the coordination, also took upon itself the task of mediating, Bavarian-wide, the medical standby service. Under a single service number, the KVB - supported by three coordinating and advisory centres (VBZ) located in Augsburg, Munich and Nuremberg - mediates medical and psychotherapeutic help outside of regular doctor's consulting hours both in high-density and in rural areas. With this system, the patients receive telephone advice from a duty physician, and are given information about the opening hours of the nearest doctor's office on standby duty. If necessary, the on-duty physician will also visit the caller at home.